Apparatus for detecting stock

An apparatus comprising:

• a stock forming machine;
• a stock feeder, wherein said stock feeder feeds stock into said stock forming machine;
• a stock detector, including:
• a housing, wherein said housing includes a radially extending surface;
• a piston, wherein said piston comprises a first portion, and wherein said piston is movably mounted in said housing and wherein said first portion is engageable with said first surface responsive to movement of said piston in said housing;
• a sensor positioned adjacent said first portion in said housing;
• wherein stock fed by said feeder is operative to move said piston, and wherein said sensor senses when said first portion engages said first surface.

An apparatus comprising:

• a stock forming machine;
• a stock feeder, wherein said stock feeder feeds stock into said stock forming machine;
• a stock detector, including:
• a housing, said housing including a bore, wherein said bore comprises a stepped bore, wherein a first portion of said bore has a greater diameter than a second portion of said bore, and wherein said first and second portions are separated by a radially extending face surface;
• a piston movably mounted in said housing, and wherein said piston is a stepped piston having a first piston portion in said first bore portion and a second piston portion smaller in diameter that said first piston portion in said second bore portion, and wherein said first and second piston portions are separated by a radially extending shoulder;
• a sensor adjacent said bore in said housing;
• wherein stock fed by said feeder is operative to move said piston and wherein movement of said piston responsive to said stock is limited by engagement of said shoulder with said face surface, and wherein said sensor senses movement of said piston.